Charles l



(no Model.)

o. LIPORTIBR. 1 I ELECTRIC VALVE. i No. 560,703. Patented May 26, 1896.""--

- UNITED! STATES]. PATENT Onricna CHARLES L. FORTIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE JOHNSON ELECTRIC SERVICE COMPANY, OF SAMEPLACE.

ELECTRIC VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,703, dated May 26, 1896.

Application filed October 10, 1892. $eria1ll'o. 448,316. (No model.)

ful Improvements in Valve-Controllers and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use w the same, reference being. had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of I reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. I

My improvements relate to electrically-operated valves; and the main objects of my invention are to insure the proper seating and closing of the valves, and to prevent the sticking of the armature with which they are connected to the cores of the electromagnet,

' and generally to improve the construction and operation of devices of this class.

It consists of certain novel features in the construction and arrangement of component parts of the device, as hereinafter particularly described, and pointed outin the claim.

i In the accompanying drawings like letters designate the same parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of an electropneumatic valve embodying my improvements; and Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same, taken at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 1.

A represents a valve-case, which may be made of any suitable material. It is provided with supply and exhaust connections B and C and a connection D with the diaphragm chamber or piston of the valve or mechanism to be operated by the medium controlled by my improved device.

E is a permanent magnet attached to and inclosed by the case A. To one of its poles e is secured the yoke F, connecting and supporting the cores ff of an electromagnet G G. T0 or in proximity with the other pole e is pivoted at or near its center a soft-iron bar or armature H with its ends overhanging the heads 1' and j, and attached thereto disks 9 and j, of leather or othersuitable elastic packing material, constituting valves which are adapted to close the opening in the inner end of either of the connections B and C, according to the position of the armature. By means of these screws the valve in each end of the armature is adjusted so as to be seated and close the opening in the adjacent connection without permitting the other end of the armature to touch the pole-piece for f, toward which it is attracted. The effectual seating and closing of the valves are thus insured. To insure the free operation of the armature, I prefer to provide it with pivot-bearings h h of glass or other non-corrosive material, which receive and turn upon the points of the'pivotscrews 71, 71. i

The coils G and G of the electrom agnet are wound on the cores ff in opposite directions, one terminal of the coil G being connected with the binding-post a and the other terminal with an insulated contact-piece g, and one terminal of the coil G being connected with the binding-post a and with an insulated c011- tact-piece g.

The armature H is formed or provided with an arm or spring h, which is arranged to engage with one or the other of the contactpieces g and g, according to the position into which it is moved and held by the magnets, and it is electrically connected with the valvecase or a binding-post a which has a ground or other connection with one pole of the battery M, supplying the instrument with cur- 85 rent. The binding-posts a a are connected bywires 70 It with the opposite contact-points ll of a thermostat L or other suitable circuit-controlling device. The expansiorrstrip or movable member Z of the thermostat is con- 0 nected with the other pole of the battery M.

My improved valve operates as follows: The circuit having been closed through the coil G by the engagement of the movable part Z with the contact Z. of the thermostat has'95 left the armature in the position in which it is shown in the drawings, with the valve 1' open, the valvej closed, and the arm or spring h in engagement with the contact g. If now a change of temperature moves the part Z I00 into engagement with the contact Z, the circuit will be closed through the coil G, thereby increasing the strength of the core f and its pull on the armature H and decreasing or neutralizing the effect of the pole f, or reversin 9, its polarity, due to the permanent magnet E. The armature H having a polarity like that of the opposite pole e of the permanent magnet, unlike the polarity of the core f and like the polarity which the coil G tends to induce in the core f, will be instantly shifted in position, closing the valve 1", opening the valve j, and carrying the arm or spring it out of engagement with the contact-piece g into engagement with the contact-piece When the circuit is thus broken through the coil G, the armature H will be held by the permanent magnet E in'the position into which it has just been turned, the core f, by reason of its closer proximity with said armature, acting with much greater effect than the core f thereon. The valves being thus shifted by the temporary action and change of polarity of the electromagnet G G, and held in place whenshifted by the constant action of the permanent magnet E, out off communication between the supply connection B and the connection D and open communication between said connection D and the exhaust connection 0, thereby permitting the discharge of compressed air or other actuating medium from the cylinder or diaphragm-chamber of the device operated or controlled by such air or other medium. The armature and valves will thus be held in the position last mentioned until a change of temperature in the building or apartment where the thermostat is located again shifts the movable part Z into engagement with the contact Z, thereby closing the circuit through the coil G. The armature and valves will thereuponbe instantly reversed or shifted, the exhaust connection 0 of the valve-chamber closed, and communication between the supply connection B and the connection D established.

In detail of construction and arrangement or less from the adjacent pole of the permanent magnet E, and in place of the differential winding of the coils of the electromagnet any other Well-known arrangement or device may be employed to reverse or change its polarity. It is, however, of prime importance that the armature should move with perfect freedom, and that means should be provided for varying the proximity of the armature to the cores of the electromagnet, whereby the closing of the Valves is insured and sticking of the armature to the cores of said magnet is avoided.

I claim- In an electric valve the combination of a valve-ease provided with connections having valve seats and openings within said case, an electromagnet, means for changing the polarity of said magnet, a polarized armature pivoted within said case in the field of said magnet and provided opposite the seats and openings in said connections with valves which are adj ustably connected with said armature so as to admit of varying the distance between them and their seats, whereby sticking of the armature to the cores of the magnet is prevented and the closing of the valves is insured, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES L. FORTIER. Witnesses:

ROBERT W. DAY, H. C. MALLoRY.

e of the assignee in Letters Patent N 0. 560,7 03,-

granted May 26, 1896, upon the application of Charles L. For-tier, of Chicago, Illinois,

for an improvement in Electric Valves, same place, (i. 6. Chicago, Illinois) wherea and printed .Mtlwaulcee, Wisconsin; and that t Countersigned S. T. FISHER,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Was erroneously Written and printed of s said residence should have been Written JNO. M. REYNOLDS, Assistant Secretary of the Interior. 

